Police said the incident began after the man "had drunk five or more beers" and argued with his wife. The husband then called a friend and told the friend he was going to kill himself. The friend was on the way to apartment when the man texted and said he was going to also kill his wife.

The friend said that upon arrival, he heard yelling inside the apartment and then gun shots.

Police said the man shot the 41-year-old victim at least once and then tried to shoot himself.

"At that point, the (19-year-old) daughter’s boyfriend pushed the gunman out of the apartment," LAPD Lt. Paul Vernon said. "The gunman then turned the gun on himself once again, this time killing himself with a shotgun blast to the head."

The victim and the gunman shared only one of the seven children that were present, that being a 10-year-old son. Also in the apartment at the time of the shooting were the victim’s 13 and 16-year-old sons, a pregnant 19-year-old daughter, and the daughter’s 1, 3, and 4-year-old children.

"Tragic as this is, it could have been so much worse," Lt. Vernon said. "It’s lucky no one else was killed or wounded in that crowded apartment, either on purpose or by accident, thanks in part to the boyfriend."

Donations to the family can be made at Good Day Donuts at 8245 Sepulveda Blvd.